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Overview

Hidden deep in the heart of a snow-covered wilderness lies the secret kingdom of the Kanina magical realm as beautiful as it is treacherous…

Bryn Aven has never fit into Kanin society. Her blond hair and blue eyes set her apart as an outsidera half-blood unable to hold a respectable rank. But she's determined to prove herself as a loyal protector of the kingdom she loves. Her dream is to become a member of the King's elite guard, and she's not going to let anything stand in her way…not even her growing feelings for her boss, Ridley Dresden. A relationship between them is strictly forbidden, but Bryn can't fight her attraction to him. And she's beginning to think he feels it too.

Meanwhile, there's an attack on the kingdomone that will test Bryn's strength like never before. Finally, she has the chance to confront Konstantin Black, the traitor who tried to kill her father years ago. It's up to Bryn to put a stop to him before he strikes again. But is she willing to risk everything to protect a kingdom that doesn't accept her for who she really is? And when her mission brings her closer to Ridley, will she be able to deny her heart?

About the Author

AMANDA HOCKING is The New York Times bestselling author of the Trylle and Watersong series and a lifelong Minnesotan. She made headlines by selling more than a million copies of her books, primarily in eBook format.

Read an Excerpt

Frostfire

By Amanda Hocking

St. Martin's Griffin

Three years of tracker school—including extensive combat training, courses on social etiquette, and peer integration—and none of it ever changed the fact that I really hated human high school. Every time I started a new school to get close to a new charge, I found myself rethinking my career choice.

Back before I chose to go to tracker school, rather than finishing out Kanin high school to become a farmer or a teacher or maybe a horse trainer, I remember watching the trackers come and go from missions. They all seemed so worldly and powerful. They earned the respect and admiration of everybody in Doldastam.

I imagined the kinds of adventures they must be having, traveling the world. Most of them stayed in North America, but sometimes I'd hear stories of a tracker going off to England or Italy, and some even went as far as Japan.

The prospect of traveling and protecting my people sounded exciting and noble. Then I had graduated, and I spent the next four years actually doing the job. If only I had known how much of my "missions" as a tracker involved wearing itchy school uniforms and trying to keep up on slang so I could fit in with spoiled rich kids, I might've reconsidered.

It was during lunch on my fifth day in Chicago, as I followed Linus off the high school campus, when I realized they were watching him, too. I wasn't exactly sure who "they" were, but I'd spotted the car—a black sedan with tinted windows—parked nearby several times since yesterday morning, and that was too much for coincidence.

As I trailed behind Linus and two of his friends, deliberately staying far enough behind so he wouldn't see me, I wondered if the mystery men in the sedan had noticed me yet. If they were staking out Linus, then they had to have seen me, since I'd been interacting with him. But that didn't mean they knew who I was. At least not yet.

Tracking was usually simple when done correctly. The first step was surveillance. I found the target—in this case Linus Berling—and for the first day or two I did nothing but watch him. The goal was to figure out who he was and what he liked, so it would be easier to earn his trust.

The second step was infiltrating his life, which was why I was wearing a ridiculous prep school uniform with a blue plaid skirt and a cardigan that felt too warm.

With a combination of bribery, charm, and a bit of Kanin skill, I'd gotten as many classes with Linus as I could, and started bumping into him "accidentally." We'd talk a little, I'd bring up his interests, laugh at his jokes, and ingratiate myself to him.

This would lead to step three. Once I had the target's trust, I'd drop the bombshell on them about who they really were, and hope like hell that they'd believe me. Usually they already had inclinations that they were different, and if I'd done my job right, everything would fall into place.

Then it was just a matter of getting them back home, preferably with trust fund in hand.

Now there was this issue with the black sedan, bogging things down right at the beginning of the second step, and I had to figure out what to do.

Linus and his friends from school had gone into a restaurant, but I didn't follow them. I stayed outside, watching through the front window as they sat down at a table. In his dark blue blazer, Linus's shoulders appeared broad, but he was actually tall and lean. After watching him fall half a dozen times during gym class, I knew he'd be no good in a fight.

The restaurant was crowded, and his friends were talking and laughing with him. Whoever was following him in the dark sedan, they were trying to be inconspicuous, which meant that they wouldn't want to create a scene in a place like this. For now, Linus was safe.

I walked away, going around the restaurant and cutting through the alley. When I came back to the street, the sedan was parked a few feet from me, but I stayed in the alley, peering around the corner. I did my best to blend in, and once again, I found myself wishing that I had more Kanin blood in me.

Even this close, the tint on the windows of the car was still too dark for me to see through. I needed more information, so I decided to call Ridley Dresden.

He was the Rektor, so he might have a better idea of what was going on. The Rektor was in charge of trackers, organizing placements, assigning changelings, and basically just keeping us all in order. Because of his position, Ridley was privy to more information than I was, and he might be able to shed some light on the sedan.

Before I called, I decided to use the video option on my phone. It seemed like a smarter choice, because then I could actually show Ridley the car instead of just describing it to him.

But when Ridley finally answered—shirtless, with his brown curls even more untamed than normal—I realized that maybe I should've sent him a text first, letting him know that I'd be video-chatting with him.

"Bryn?" he asked, and behind him I saw movement as someone got up, wrapping themselves in a dark comforter. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes. And no," I said, keeping my voice low so people walking by on the street wouldn't hear. "Sorry if I'm disturbing you."

"No, it's okay." He sat up straighter, and the rabbit amulet he wore on a leather strap around his neck slid across his bare chest. I heard a girl's voice in the background, but I couldn't understand her. "One second." He held his hand over the phone, covering both the camera and the mic, but I could still hear him promising to call her later. "Sorry. I'm back."

"Aren't you supposed to be working right now?" I asked, raising a disapproving eyebrow.

"I'm on a lunch break. It's called a nooner," Ridley said, meeting my gaze with a devilish gleam in his eye.

The year I graduated from the tracker program was the year Ridley became the Rektor. I hadn't really known him before that, but his reputation had preceded him. Everyone regarded him as one of the finest trackers, but though he was only twenty-four, he'd been forced to retire three years ago. He was still youthful looking, especially for a guy in his mid-twenties, but thanks in part to his persistent stubble, he couldn't pass for a teenager any longer.

But that was the only bit of his reputation that I'd heard about. He had a long history of being a serial dater, and this wasn't the first time I'd accidentally caught him in a compromising situation.

But over the years he'd proved himself to be an excellent Rektor and a loyal friend. So I tried not to fault him too much for his escapades.

"But anyway, what's going on with you?" Ridley asked. The glint in his dark eyes was quickly replaced by concern.

"Do you know anything about someone else following Linus Berling?" I asked.

His brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Is there any reason for someone else to be tracking him?" I clarified. "Anyone else from Doldastam, or another Kanin tracker? Maybe even from another tribe?"

"Why would anyone else be following him?" Ridley shook his head. "You're his tracker. You're the only one that should be on him. Did you see someone?"

"Not exactly." I chewed the inside of my cheek and looked up from the phone at the dark sedan, which hadn't moved. "I haven't seen anyone, but this car has been following him." I turned the phone around to show it to Ridley.

"Which one?" Ridley asked, and I tilted the phone to show him more directly.

"The black one with the windows tinted. Do you recognize it?"

Ridley was quiet for a moment, considering. "No, I can't say that I do."

"I was afraid of that." I leaned back against the brick wall and turned the phone back around to me. Ridley had leaned forward, like he'd been inspecting the image of the car closely.

"You haven't seen anyone get in or out of it yet?" Ridley asked.

"No." I shook my head.

"It could just be a human thing," Ridley suggested, but he didn't sound like he believed it.

"I don't think so." I sighed. "I'm gonna go check it out."

"Okay." Ridley pressed his lips into a thin line and nodded once, reluctant to agree that I should put myself in a possibly dangerous situation. "Just don't do anything stupid, Bryn."

"I never do," I assured him with a smile, but that just caused him to roll his eyes.

"I mean it," he insisted. "Investigate, but do not interact with them until you figure out who we're dealing with. In the meantime, I'll see if I can run the plates or find out anything on that car. I'll check in with you later today, okay?"

"Okay. And I'll let you know if I find anything out."

"Stay safe, Bryn," Ridley said, and before he could say anything else, I ended the call.

According to the clock on the phone, I only had twenty minutes left of lunch and then afternoon class began. My options were limited, but I knew I didn't want to wait outside all day, hoping the passengers would make a move so I could see them. If somebody was after Linus, I needed to find out who it was before something bad happened.

So I walked out of the alley and straight to the car. Ridley might consider what I was doing stupid, but it was my best option. Out of the past twelve changelings I'd tracked, I'd brought twelve of them back home. I wasn't about to let Linus be the first one I lost.

I grabbed the handle of the back door, half expecting it to be locked, but it opened, so I got in. Two men were sitting in front, and they both turned around to look at me as I slid across the seat.

"What the hell?" the driver snarled.

When I saw who it was—his steel-gray eyes meeting mine—my heart clenched, and all the air went out of my lungs. For that moment everything felt frozen as he glared at me, then the rage and horror surged through me in a nauseating mixture.

I recovered as quickly as I could, holding back my anger, and smiled at him. Somehow in an even voice, I said his name. "Konstantin Black."

CHAPTER 2

vengeance

His eyes narrowed, and his lip twitched ever so slightly. "Do I know you?"

"Not exactly," I admitted, not surprised that he didn't remember me.

The only time I'd spoken to him had been one of the most important and traumatic nights of my life, but that night he'd clearly had his mind on something else. Before that, I had only been one adoring fan out of thousands that he'd met in his tenure at Doldastam.

Konstantin had changed some in the four years since I'd last seen him—four long years since he'd attacked my father and disappeared into the night. His eyes seemed harder, and there were lines etched in the once-smooth skin around them. He'd grown a beard, and his hair was a bit longer and wilder than I remembered him wearing it.

But he was still unmistakably him. I'd spent years nursing a schoolgirl crush on him, picturing that face in my daydreams, and then I'd spent years plotting my revenge against him, picturing that face in my nightmares.

Now here it was, his eyes mere inches from my own, and he had no idea who I was.

"You're a tracker," Konstantin realized, and the corner of his mouth curved up into a smirk. I remembered the way that smirk had once filled me with butterflies, but now it only made me want to punch it off his face.

"So you do know her? Or not?" his companion asked.

"No, I don't know her, Bent," Konstantin told him, and I glanced over at his partner in crime.

His friend—Bent, apparently—I didn't recognize, but by his features I guessed he was Omte. His skin was smooth, and he appeared to be tall, but he had the same lopsided square head and beady eyes of a hobgoblin. Not to mention he didn't seem that bright.

"You're a wanted man, Konstantin. What are you doing here?" I asked, instead of hitting him or spitting in his face. Despite my wish for vengeance, I needed to find out what he wanted with Linus Berling and what he was doing here.

"Same thing as you, I would guess," Konstantin admitted.

Pressing my hands on the black leather of the seat to keep from slapping him, I asked, "What do you want with Linus? You don't have a tribe to take him back to. What's the point of even tracking him?"

"We were just waiting for a chance to grab him, and then we're—" Bent began, but then Konstantin shot him a glare and he fell silent.

"Kidnapping? Really?" I shook my head. "Are you planning to hold him for ransom?"

Konstantin pressed a button in the center console, and the doors clicked as they locked. "Things are far more complicated than they seem."

I licked my lips, and, going against my better instincts, I offered him an olive branch. "How about I make a deal with you? I won't kill you if you let Linus leave with me." Then I paused, recalling the last thing Konstantin had ever said to me: I am bound to something much higher than this kingdom, and I must complete my mission.

Konstantin tilted his head then, eyeing me as if he were seeing me for the first time. "Do I know you?"

Bent had apparently grown tired of me, and he turned around in the seat with a dopey, crooked smile plastered across his face. "Whatever. I'm taking care of her."

"Bent, maybe—" Konstantin began, but Bent was already in motion.

He leaned over the front seat, reaching for me. His hands were disproportionally large, like massive bear paws, but he was slow, and I easily ducked out of the way.

I grabbed a clump of his dark curly hair, and then I yanked his head to the side, slamming it into the back passenger window. I let go of him and leaned back quickly, then I kicked his head, crashing it into the window again. The glass was shatterproof, and it instantly turned into a crackled sheet as blood streamed down the side of Bent's head.

Konstantin reached over the seat for me—going after me for the first time—but I slid past him. Bent was now slumped unconscious on the backseat, and I climbed over him. Konstantin grabbed my leg as I pushed through the crumbled glass of the window, but thankfully I'd been wearing knee-high socks, so I wriggled out of his grasp. He was left with a sock and a shoe in his hand as I dove out.

I fell onto the sidewalk, scraping my knee on the cement, but I was up in a flash. Konstantin got out of the car, but I wanted to get to Linus before he went back to the school, so that I could take him far away from Konstantin.

He grabbed my arm, and I whirled on him and punched him hard in the stomach. It felt so good that I had to punch him again, harder this time. It wasn't quite the same as running him through with a sword, but it would do for now.

As he doubled over in pain, I said into his ear, "That was for my father. You should've taken the deal."

His grip tightened on my arm as realization dawned on him, and his eyes widened in surprise. "You're the Chancellor's daughter."

"Bryn Aven," I told him, still whispering in his ear. "Remember my name. Because I'm going to be the one that kills you." Then I kneed him in the crotch. He let go, and I stepped back.

"This man is a child molester!" I shouted, and pointed to Konstantin. "He tried to touch me, and he's staking out the school for more kids to molest!"

I was nineteen, but the uniform made me look younger. The sidewalks were crowded over lunch hour, and people had stopped to watch since I'd broken out of the car window. My knee was bleeding, and my clothes looked disheveled from fighting.

As people circled closer to Konstantin and several of them pulled out their cell phones to call the police, I slid back in the crowd. For a moment I stayed around, protected by a small sea of people, and I watched him.

He was looking right back at me, his eyes locked on mine. I'd expected to see anger or arrogance, but he wore neither of those. Instead, he almost seemed to look at me with remorse, and for a split second I felt my hatred of him softening, but I refused to let it.

In the investigation following Konstantin's attempt on my dad's life, nobody had ever been able to figure out his motive. By all accounts, Konstantin had been a good and loyal servant of the kingdom since he'd become a tracker over a decade ago. He'd never had any disagreements with my father, or the King or Queen.

But in the years following that, I'd decided that it didn't matter what his motive was. No reason would ever be good enough for what he had done, and even if he was filled with regret and someday begged me to forgive him, I never would.

The crowd was overtaking him, so I turned and ran down the block. People called after me, and I ran faster.

Since I was only wearing one shoe, it felt awkward, so when I reached the restaurant, I stopped and pulled it and my remaining sock off. The cold cement felt better on my feet than socks did anyway.

When I looked through the window, I saw that Linus was just finishing up, and I pushed down all of the emotions that seeing Konstantin Black had brought up. I had a mission at hand, and it required my full attention.

I didn't know how things would go with Linus. I'd only been talking with him for three days. In an ideal situation, I'd make a connection for two or three weeks, sometimes even a month, before I took a changeling back to Doldastam.

"Linus!" I shouted as I opened the door. A waitress tried to stop me, but I pushed past her and hurried over to his table.

"Bryn?" He stared up at me with confused brown eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"Do you trust me?" I asked, a little out of breath from running all the way here.

"What?" Linus looked over at his friend, who laughed nervously, and then back at me. "You're bleeding. Were you in an accident?"

"Okay, seriously. We don't have time for this." I glanced back at the door. Then I looked down at him. "Come with me if you want to live."

Both his friends burst out laughing at that, but Linus swallowed hard. The sleeves of his blazer had been pushed to his elbows, and I saw the subtle shift of his skin tone. It didn't completely change, but the olive color began to take on a bluish hue.

Editorial Reviews

11/17/2014Returning to the troll world of her Trylle trilogy, Hocking explores another tribe of trolls in this first book in the Kanin Chronicles. Bryn Aven is a tracker who recovers changelings (Kanin children reared by humans) once they reach adulthood. An outsider in appearance and powers, Bryn straddles the line between Kanin and the Skojare, her mother’s defected tribe. When changelings are threatened by Konstantin Black, a sworn enemy of the Kanin, Bryn weighs her devotion to her father, who was attacked by Black, against her growing conviction that Black is merely a pawn. In addition to tribe rivalries and changeling abductions, Hocking brews sexual tension between Bryn and her boss, Ridley, while introducing secondary plots: a pregnant friend, a mother who doesn’t approve of Bryn’s job, and Bryn’s growing distrust of the royals she is sworn to protect. Those unfamiliar with Hocking’s Trylle novels may find the boundary between the human and troll worlds difficult to discern, but the novel’s lingering questions and the author’s knack for cliffhangers are reason enough to anticipate the next installment. Ages 12–up. Agent: Steven Axelrod, Axelrod Agency. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

Hocking is a paranormal YA favorite, and her latest does not disappoint. Readers will feel transported by this beautifully written story. There's adventure, heart and thrills. Protagonist Bryn is filled with such power and determination, she will do whatever it takes to follow her dreams  and her heart. Hocking's latest will have no trouble keeping the rapt attention of thrill-seekers and romantics alike.” RT Bookreviews

“Returning to the troll world of her Trylle trilogy, Hocking explores another tribe of trolls in this first book in the Kanin Chronicles. The novel's lingering questions and the author's knack for cliffhangers are reason enough to anticipate the next installment.” Publisher's Weekly

“With a thrilling climax and a haunting resolution, Frostfire brings us back to the world of the Trylle with a bang. Fans of Hocking's previous titles won't want to miss it. Although the exposition initially bogged it down, the story soon took off, leading us to one of Hocking's best resolutions yet. I can't wait to see where Bryn's story takes us next!” The Teen Bookworm

“Drawn in from the first page, this was an exciting, action packed story with intriguing characters and an extremely enjoyable plot. If you're after a great read, be sure to pick this up.” Head Stuck in a Book

“Frostfire had everything … it just drew me in, and I didn't want to put it down! If you read the Trylle series, I recommend that you read this too. I think Frostfire is even more spectacular. Amanda Hocking just keeps getting better and better!” Watcha Reading

“A must read… now I have to run out and buy the Trylle trilogy as well!” Jump into Books

“For those who love a great trilogy, there's a new one on the horizon…Frostfire is a great first installment of the Kanin Chronicles. I eagerly await the next book in the series.” Sukasa Reads

“Amanda Hocking always has interesting, intense and beautiful storylines. This trilogy is a must-read for people looking for something a bit different. We have a beautiful heroine ... and trolls! Trylle fans will also love the crossover of their favorite characters and seeing them interact with Bryn. All in all, Bryn's story is engrossing and will keep readers clutching their books and e-readers.” USA Today.com

From the Publisher

2014-11-04A Trylle Trilogy spinoff features new beautiful trolls from a different tribe—the Kanin.Ambitious Bryn's plan is to earn an appointment to the elite guard, the Högdragen, by serving as a tracker. She idolizes one of the Högdragen, the handsome and wildly talented Konstantin Black—until he attempts to murder the chancellor, her father. She and her father survive, and she throws herself into her training with the new vow of hunting down the renegade Konstantin to bring him to justice. Four years later, she's an accomplished tracker, finding Kanin changeling children in the human world and bringing them home (but not before draining the trust funds that their wealthy adoptive parents give them—a keystone of the Kanin economy). During a routine assignment, she suddenly comes face to face with Konstantin, who also pursues her target. She gets the changeling to safety but is baffled by a strange sympathy she feels for Konstantin. Soon another tracker encounters him, establishing a mystery: Why is he after the changelings? The plot's generally accessible to readers new to Hocking's universe, though they may be frustrated by gaps in explanations of the world's mechanics. Besides the Konstantin plot, Bryn also struggles against feelings for her handsome superior officer as well as with race and class issues, as she's only half-Kanin and therefore looked down upon. The ending is painfully abrupt. Good for fans of romance and the genre. (Fantasy. 14 & up)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

First of all, this cover!! Who else was simply attracted to the book simply because of the cover? It is so so beautiful! While reading through some of the other reviews on goodreads, I've learned that the covers for both the second and third book are also up and omg! If you haven't checked them out, definitely do so because all the covers of this trilogy are all so gorgeous!
Since I haven't read the first trilogy of this world, The Trylle, I was a bit wary about starting this book since I knew I'd be missing any references made to the first trilogy. But now that I've finished it, I can definitely say that you do not need to read the first series to enjoy this book. I was definitely impressed throughout the book as I didn't feel it was boring or longer than it needed be.
Bryn Aven, a half-breed, works as a tracker for the Kingdom and eventually wants to become one of the Hogdragen, the Kingdom's Elite Guard. But in order to do so, she needs to fully focus her attention on completing her given missions and following orders. This has been hard for to do with her somewhat forbidden romance with her boss, Ridley. Through the ending of the book, her once beloved hero yet now enemy, Konstantin Black, is slowly introduced with a new twist which makes Bryn even more confused by what is true and who she can and cannot trust. I can definitely see a love triangle forming throughout the series, and honestly I really don't know who's team I'd be on.
Bryn is such a kick butt character and I really enjoyed seeing her develop and become even stronger throughout the book. I'm really interested in seeing how her character grows through the series and definitely cannot wait to see what happens next, especially how the book ended with a cliff hanger. I would highly recommend anyone to pick this book up if you're looking to dive into a new fantasy series.

Addicted_Readers

More than 1 year ago

4 Stars
I've been so eager to read FROSTFIRE since I seen the amazing cover last year and fell madly in love with it. And the rest of the series covers are just as amazing, if not better!! And when I received my ARC for review, I nearly jumped for joy at it's awesomeness!!
But honestly, I may have had my exceptions a little too high. I read Hocking's Zombie series and absolutely LOVED it. So I guess I may have set my standards to those same exceptions, because it wasn't as good as I hoped, and it ended without giving too much incite on the plot and the reasoning behind the plot of the story. But nevertheless, FROSTFIRE was still enjoyable and totally an engaging read, that I was quickly entangled with and didn't want to put down once I was ensnared.
Let me elaborate...
I loved the world building. The plot of the story was alluring and absolutely appealing. But the pacing and lack of depth didn't back up the story to the full worth of the plot. It had some plot holes, and not enough info to back it all up. It felt like it dragged a bit from time to time, and then their wasn't enough answers to support the full drama and mystery that made this story. And by the end of the book we still don't get answers to why things that happened in the book happened. And that was a little irritating because I desperately wanted to know WHY???
THE PLOT
Bryn just wants to be normal, fit in with the same people she's pledged her allegiance too. She's an outcast among the Kanin tribe. Always has been and always will be if she doesn't do something to change it.
Her dream is to become a Hogdragen, one of the finest guards the Kanin has to offer. But since she's half Skojare and half Kanin, she's considered to be the lesser of the full-breed Kanin. But Bryn has never let that stop her from trying, and she's not about to start now!
So Bryn is determined to work her way up the ranks, starting with being a Tracker, tracking the Changelings and convincing them it's time to return home to their Kanin heritage. Thanks to her boss and good friend Ridley, he keeps her on a narrow path, reminding her that she is in fact something special, no matter what her race is. But it's getting harder and harder to deny the feelings she has for him. The rush she feels when he's around. The overpowering desire her body convulses with when he's close. But it's a dangerous, forbidden game she's playing here, and she may just be the one to get burnt.
But there is something that haunts Bryn's dreams, something that almost destroyed her world, something that's come back to finish the job...
Four years ago, a fallen hero named Konstantin went from being the most admired man, to the most hated in a matter a minutes. He crossed a line that not even Bryn, who has secretly been in love with him can forgive. Mater of fact, the betrayal hits more home to her family then any other Kanins, and she's determined to understand the reasoning behind his actions, and then see him put to justice for the crimes he's committed against her, her family, the kingdom, and the Changelings once and for all.
But Bryn's dreams to rise the ranks and become a Hogdragen have to get put on hold when her nightmares literally come true. The Kanin traitor and wanted fugitive Konstantin has resurfaced after four years, and is picking their Changelings off one by one. Bryn and the rest of the trackers are unsure of his true motives and who else is really behind it all. But one thing is for certain, he must be stopped, and she is determined to find him and put an end to it once and for all.
But as Bryn digs deeper into these kidnappings, something is telling her theirs more to the story then she once thought. Someone is sitting back in the shadows pulling the strings, but who, and why? And Konstantin was one of the Kanin's greatest Hogdragen in their history, so why was he so quickly willing to throw it all a way for what seems like nothing?
It all makes no sense, but Bryn is out for answers&mdash;answers that seem to only create more questions. Bryn is willing to go to great lengths to reveal that truth behind the kidnappings and who's really behind them. But from the beginning the puzzles didn't seem to fit, and now more then ever, the pieces are starting to come together. But before all is said and done, the truth might bring the kingdoms to their knees...
Overall, even with the lack of development and explanation, I still enjoyed it, a lot! I'm looking forward to continuing this series and seeing how it all plays out, and hopefully getting the answers that I desperately seek!! If you love books with magical worlds, built around tough, driven characters, with determination to survive, then you should definitely check out FROSTFIRE!!!
**AUDIOBOOK IMPRESSIONS**
I really enjoyed the narration of FROSTFIRE. The narrator, Eileen Stevens was well suited for this type of story. Her voice and acting portrayed a teenagers, and fit well with the plot. Her performance blended the right sounds, stops and pauses just at the right time. The emotional feel Eileen radiated with her voice allowed me to experience the characters feelings in overdrive! It's a wonderful feeling to have a narrator put you in the characters shoes with her define and alluring narration!! I will definitely listen to more books by this narrator in the future!!
NOTE: I received a Physical ARC from St. Martin's Griffin &amp; a audiobook from audible for reviewing purposes! All opinions express are my own and are not influenced in any way!

SezjbSB

More than 1 year ago

Frostfire is the first book in the spin-off series from Amanda Hocking's Trylle trilogy.
The focus is on the Kanin troll tribe and Bryn Aven, an outcast half-blood who as a tracker is determined to rise in rank and one day work for the Kings Guard, and protect the Royal Family.
When a wanted Kanin fugitive Konstantin Black who has a history with Bryn, is found to be attempting to kidnap high ranking changelings before the trackers can retrieve them, Bryn is determined to capture him once and for all.
With a possible forbidden romance between Bryn and her boss Ridley on the horizon, there is much to love in this new series.
With appearances of characters from the Trylle series spread throughout the story, there is something here for old fans as well as new ones, and while I do recommend reading the Trylle trilogy first you could read Frostbite without having read the previous books.
I love Amanda's writing style and I can't wait for the next book, while this didn't exactly end on a cliff-hanger it seemed to end suddenly and left me anxiously needing book two.
Drawn in from the first page, this was an exciting, action packed story with intriguing characters and an extremely enjoyable plot.
If you're after a great read, be sure to pick this book up.

Alyssa75

More than 1 year ago

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Frostfire by Amanda Hocking
Book One of the Kanin Chronicles
Publisher: St. Martins Griffin
Publication Date: January 6, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
The first book in a magical new YA series from New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking that invites readers back to the beloved world of the Trylle.
Bryn Aven is an outcast among the Kanin, the most powerful of the troll tribes. Set apart by her heritage and her past, Bryn is a tracker who's determined to become a respected part of her world. She has just one goal: become a member of the elite King&rsquo;s Guard to protect the royalty. She's not going to let anything stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her boss Ridley Dresden. But all her plans for the future are put on hold when Konstantin&ndash; a fallen hero who she once loved &ndash; appears to be up to something dangerous, kidnapping changelings. Bryn is sent in to help stop him, but will she lose her heart in the process?
What I Liked:
First - can we talk about how BEAUTIFUL the covers are, for the entire series?! If you haven't seen the second or third book's covers, definitely check them out on Goodreads. The cover of this book really embodies Bryn - as well as the Kanin world. Same with the other two covers!
Bryn is half Skojare, half Kanin - and she has always been an outcast in the Kanin tribe, because of her differences (both physical and otherwise). She's blonde (whereas Kanin are brunettes), ice pale (whereas Kanin have tanned skin), and has no troll abilities (where Kanin have persuasion and other supernatural abilities). But her differences make her work even harder, to be a successful tracker, and eventually, a member of an elite Guard of the King.
But when a mission goes wrong and a traitor who hurt her father reappears, Bryn will have to make some decisions. She has a feeling that Konstantin (the traitor) isn't simply a traitor, and that there is something larger at play. But even Bryn's friend and boss, Ridley, doesn't believe her. Bryn has to discover the truth, or the wrong person could be punished.
I really liked this extension of the troll world that Hocking created, starting with the Trylle trilogy! If you haven't had the chance to read those books yet, definitely try and read them before reading the Kanin Chronicles. It's not necessary, but I think it would help. I literally binge-read the Trylle trilogy weeks ago, for the purpose of being able to read this book with no trouble/more background.
Bryn is a really likable character, in my opinion. She's a little air-headed at times, just like Wendy, but I liked her more than I liked Wendy. Bryn has a different drive, motive, MO, whatever. She has worked so hard for what she has and what she wants. She's not royalty, she's a hybrid, and she's also a couple years older than Wendy was in the Trylle series. In context though, I think this series occurs years after the Trylle trilogy - it mentions Finn being like, twenty-four.
In this book, Bryn is a tracker, bringing in changelings. She wants to do much more than that, but she wants to be a faithful servant to the crown. When Konstantin Black shows up while she is tracking a changeling, everything changes. Konstantin and some guy named Bent seem to be after changelings, and the Kanin will not let this happen. Ridley, Bryn, and other Kanin begin to track down changelings at an alarming rate.
Ridley is Bryn's boss - about five years older than her, retired tracker, now a Rektor (in charge of the trackers). Bryn never really noticed her attraction to him... but there is a lot of chemistry between them. He has a girlfriend (awkward), but that doesn't seem to do anything to the attraction between them. He wants Bryn and Bryn wants him. But the relationship is strictly forbidden (tracker and Rektor), and Bryn doesn't want to attach herself to anyone. Or does she?
It's entirely possible that, like the Trylle series, a love triangle could pop into this series. I could see Hocking working some sort of romance angle between Bryn and Konstantin. I wish she wouldn't, because I'm not the biggest fan of Konstantin (yet?), and I like Ridley.
The thing is, we don't get to know much about Konstantin, or his motives, or what's going on, really. We don't get to know why he attacked Bryn's father, years ago. We don't know why he and Bent are trying to take changelings. But it's bigger than two people betraying the tribe. Personally, I think Konstantin is trying to change the way things are done (not everyone likes the changeling system), but that's my conspiracy theory).
The world-building is really well-done, in this book. Kanin is very different from Trylle. Also, Bryn is very different from Wendy. It's interesting to see things from the perspective of a tracker, versus a queen. Kanin seems colder than Trylle - not that Trylle was a ball of sunshine or anything.
Does this book end well? Not exactly. Hocking has a way with ending books with plenty of unanswered questions, a cliffhanger in the plot, the romance. I think this really works in this series - especially since we won't have to wait a year or more for the next book - the sequel will be published in May.
So, with that, I leave you with - I can't wait to read the next book!
What I Did Not Like:
Like I said above, I'm hoping that Hocking steers clear of the love triangle realm. I totally ship Bryn and Ridley. Although... in the Trylle trilogy, Loki wasn't even fully introduced into the series until book two. So, we might not even meet Bryn's chosen one until book two. Scary thought...
Would I Recommend It:
Personally, I really liked this book! I liked the Trylle series as well, and I'm enjoying the spinoff series so far. The Kanin world seems so much colder and darker than the Trylle world - in the best of ways! I'm excited about book two.
Rating:
4 stars. Fans of Amanda Hocking will love this new book (and series), I'm sure of it! And hey, trolls, that's interesting, right?! I'm intrigued!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I&rsquo;m a huge fan of Amanda Hocking&rsquo;s books, the Trylle in particular, so I couldn&rsquo;t wait to read this. Set in a world within our own that you can&rsquo;t help but crave to be a part of, revisiting the troll tribes is such a treat for readers. I am SO glad the author brought us back into this fascinating world.
Bryn Aven doesn&rsquo;t feel like she belongs in the Kanin tribe, being half Skojare. Her heritage puts her at a disadvantage, but Bryn works twice as hard for what she wants &mdash; to be a top-ranking tracker and eventually join the elite guard charged with protecting the city. She&rsquo;s focused and determined, and shows little weakness. Then Bryn comes up against someone who haunts her past, and she begins to fall for her boss. Though Bryn fights against her personal feelings, remaining true to her ultimate goal of protecting the kingdom at whatever cost, there&rsquo;s only so far she can push herself, and things start to get complicated.
A story of royalty, secrets, betrayal, and forbidden love, Frostfire is an incredible start to what I imagine to be another popular series. The Trylle blew me away, Watersong was utterly enchanting, and the Kanin Chronicles promises to be just as spectacular. I loved getting a look at how another tribe lives, with new characters to love and cameo appearances from Trylle favourites. The Kanin series is set four years after the Trylle books, so readers will likely appreciate this more having read the Trylle trilogy beforehand, but it is not necessary to have done so before reading Frostfire.
Amanda Hocking&rsquo;s work is always perfect for me. Completely gripping, read with ease, flows flawlessly from start to finish. I need some kind of bonus star because five doesn&rsquo;t seem enough. I already love this series and I can&rsquo;t wait to find out more.

D-B1

More than 1 year ago

I loved and enjoyed reading the spellbinding and mesmerizing Advance Reading Copy written by the best selling writer of the Trylle Trilogy, Amanda Hocking, that I received from Goodreads.
Bryn Aven is a tracker who witnesses her hero, Konstantin, trying to kill her father. Bryn is working hard to become a member of the elite King's Guard, but she has a genuine feeling and strong attraction for her boss, Ridley Dresden. Trackers are not allowed to date each other especially his or her boss and someone trying to move up the ranks. Changelings in line for the throne are being kidnapped and Bryn keeps running into and coming up against her ex-hero Konstantin.
Read the suspenseful, intriguing and captivating, highly recommended novel, Frostfire.

Chrissy_W

More than 1 year ago

Did I enjoy this book? I did, but not as much as the Trylle trilogy.
Bryn is a pretty good character. She is determined, and she works hard. She’s good at what she does, but she is young and naive and more often than not it shows . . . especially in the end. I’m not going to tell you what happened, but the ending does not strike me as something a tracker who wants to be a member of the royal guard would do. I’m just saying.
While I loved being be back in the Trylle world, I didn’t love the pace of this book. It was slow. The kind of slow where I put this book down, read other books, and then decided to pick it up again. It wasn’t a book that I had to read beginning to end in one sitting. However, I will continue with the series. I do want to know what happens next.
Would I recommend it? Yes, but not if this is your first Amanda Hocking book. I would definitely start with the Trylle trilogy.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Good read

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Just bought the second book to the series. I can't wait to start reading!

KendraJ_lillianopal

More than 1 year ago

3.5 stars. I liked this book, even though it wasn't amazing. But I still liked it. The plot was engaging and there was plenty of action and adventure. From what I've been told, it's the first book of a spin-off series of the Trylle trilogy. I haven't read the Trylle trilogy, but I understood this book just fine. Unusually, it matched my expectations almost exactly, and it neither disappointed nor amazed me.
I was a bit surprised at the modernity. I was expecting a completely new fantasy world with trolls and magic powers, and while I did get that, there were also some pop culture references along with the fact that the modern human world exists right next to the trolls. The humans allowed more room for dangerous adventures and mystery, but it also felt like they cracked the feeling of the enchanting fantasy land. I couldn't ever become fully immersed in this new world of magic for long with the constant presence of modern human society. I got used to it, yes, but I often wished for the contemporary feelings to go away.
The troll societies were charming to me in a storybook sort of way. Especially since Bryn was explaining them as a story. It was interesting how each tribe was different with its own traits and powers; almost like Hogwarts houses to the extreme. Even though their differences often caused all sorts of problems, they were still interesting to read about. I liked that aspect of the book.
While entertaining, the plot wasn't very original...the protagonist hunts down a special traitor with some love problems on the side. But the author still made it interesting enough for me to not become bored, which was good. So basically, it was a mediocre plot made exciting with clever embellishments.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy, and maybe to romance fans as well. While it didn't blow me away, it was an absorbing read and I think most fantasy lovers would enjoy it. And the growing forbidden romance often taking center stage would appeal to romance lovers.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

This was an awesome book just like the rest of the series.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Love

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I have read many of Amanda Hockings series. They are all good and this one did not disappoint.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Not my favorite

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

As much as I would like to say I liked and enjoyed this book, sadly I cannot. The story didn't grab my attention until the very end and I kept reading it hoping it would get better and it didn't. The plot was lackluster and I could not get a feel for the main characters true self. Maybe I was hoping she would be a strong, brave, and charismatic heroine but this book did not deliver that.
Romance wise I was completely disappointed. If she was a girl who was just figuring out about boys and was super shy I could understand but she isn't. There is nothing wrong with trying to figure out your heart but seriously? Nope. I don't like it.
I gave this book two stars because it was nice enough but in my opinion not good enough to really warrent a second book. I've not read any other books by this author but I heard theywere good. This however needs improvement. So if you're searching for a book that has a great storyline, adventurious and cunning plot twists, and romance to boot, then this book is not the one for you. I personally will not be waisting my money on the second installment.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Awesome book!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I bought this book at the store and read it..it's one of the best books I have ever read.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

It was a good book but it could have been better, it was good enough that i want to continue reading the rest of the trilogy

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Pretty good story, although I have my suspicions as to where it's leading. My one suggestion? Find another word besides "smirk." Everyone seems to smirk, all the time.

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